TI: Title Teachers as designers: Integrating robotics in early childhood education AU: Author Bers, Marina U; Ponte, Iris; Juelich, Catherine; Viera, Alison; Schenker, Jonathan AF: Author Affiliation Tufts U, Eliot-Pearson Dept of Child Development, Medford, MA, US [Bers, Ponte, Juelich, Viera, Schenker] SO: Source Information Technology in Childhood Education Annual. Vol 14, 2002, pp. 123-145 IS: ISSN 1522-8185 (Print) PB: Publisher Assn for the Advancement of Computing in Education, US AB: Abstract This article presents a constructionist approach to introducing technology, in particular robotics, in the early childhood classroom. The authors demonstrate how this approach is well suited, since the four basic tenets of constructionism have a long-standing tradition in early childhood education: (a) learning by designing meaningful projects to share in the community, (b) using concrete objects to build and explore the world, (c) the identification of powerful ideas that are both personally and epistemologically significant, and (d) the importance of self-reflection as part of the learning process. This article introduces a methodology for teaching preservice teachers to integrate technology in the classroom. It also describes four different experiences in which preservice teachers designed and integrated robotic projects done with LEGO Mindstorms and ROBOLAB to engage their young students in exploring and learning new concepts and ways of thinking. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2002 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract) LA: Language English PY: Publication Year 2002 PT: Publication Type Print(Paper); Journal Article PO: Population Human; Childhood (birth-12 yrs) FE: Features References; Peer Reviewed DE: Descriptors *Classrooms; *Preservice Teachers; *Robotics; *Technology; Elementary Education; Preschool Education ID: Identifiers preservice teachers; technology; classrooms; robotics; early childhood education CL: Classification 3530 Curriculum & Programs & Teaching Methods; 4140 Robotics NR: Number of References 21 reference(s) present, 21 reference(s) displayed RE: References 1. Bers, M., & Urrea, C. (2000). Technological prayers: Parents and children working with robotics and values. In A. Druin & J. Hendler (Eds.), Robots for kids: Exploring new technologies for learning experiences (194-217), New York: Morgan Kaufman. 2. Bredekamp, S., & Copple, C. (1997). 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